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1. As my Apostolic Journey to Croatia
draws to an end, I am happy to join you, the faithful of the
Archdiocese of Zadar and neighbouring areas, here in Forum Square,
in the shadow of the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia, the martyr from
Sirmio. We are gathered here to celebrate Midday Prayer, the hour of
Sext.
I greet you with affection in the name of the Lord, as I recall the
presence of my predecessor, Pope Alexander III, who stopped in this
city in March 1177 and vis-ited several places in the vicinity. I
greet your Archbishop, the Most Reverend Ivan Prendja, who has
welcomed me in the name of all present, and Archbishop Emeritus
Marijan Oblak, who took part with me in the Second Vatican
Ecumenical Council. With fraternal affection I greet the Bishops of
Croatia, who surround me today and have accompanied me throughout
this Pastoral Visit. My greetings also go to the Serbian Orthdox
Bishop of Dalmatia Fotije.
Lastly, I greet with respect the President of the Republic, whom I
thank most heartily for being present at this gathering, and the
other civil and military authorities, to whom I express my gratitude
for everything that they have done to make my visit possible.
2. Our liturgical assembly takes place on the day after the
Solemnity of Pente-cost, the day on which Croatians celebrate the
feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. The reading we have just heard
portrays Mary in the Cenacle, surrounded by the early community. The
small group, gathered in “the upper room” of the house (Acts 1:13),
prays and waits. With the coming of the Holy Spirit the doors of the
room will burst open and enable the Gospel proclamation to go out to
the streets of Jerusalem, and then to set forth on the paths of the
world.
As on the day of Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin has remained
spiritually in the midst of the Christian faithful down the
centuries, invoking the constant outpouring of the Spirit’s gifts
upon the Church as she faces the challenges which arise in different
periods of her history.
In this way Mary carries out in its fullness her mission as Mother:
she is Mother not only because she gave birth to and nurtured the
Son of God; she is also Mother because she is “the Virgin who has
become the Church,” as Saint Francis of Assisi loved to call her
(cf. Fontes Francescani, 259). Francis too passed through Zadar at
the beginning of the thirteenth century, during his journey to the
East and the Holy Land.
3. The Virgin Mary, gathering around herself the Apostles and the
disciples who were tempted to disperse, commended them to the “fire”
of the Spirit who would launch them on the adventure of mission. The
“sensus fidei” of the Christian People would recognize Mary’s active
presence not only in the earliest community, but also throughout the
Church’s history. For this reason the Church has not hesitated to
grant her the title of “Queen of the Apostles.”
The Most Holy Virgin, who, in the words of the Evangelist Luke,
“kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (2:19),
continues to set before the memory of believers the historical
events which are the foundation of their faith. As a witness to the
origins of the Church and the guarantor of the fidelity of
Christians in every gen-eration, Mary repeats in every age the words
she spoke at the wedding feast of Cana: “Do whatever he tells you”
(Jn 2:5).
4. Mary’s words and example represent a sublime school of life, at
which apos-tles are formed. Apostles in the past and apostles today.
Mary continues to prepare them for mission by her assiduous prayer
to the Father, by her closeness to her Son, and by her openness to
the promptings of the Spirit.
It pleases me to know that this Archdiocese has witnessed in recent
years the growth and expansion of different forms of lay engagement
and apostolate. Dear brothers and sisters, learn from Mary how to be
credible witnesses and generous apostles, as you make your own
contribution to the great enterprise of the new evangelization. And
never forget that a genuine apostolate demands as a prior condition
a personal encounter with Jesus, the Living One, the Lord (cf. Rev
1:17-18).
5. Mary Most Holy remains a model for all who hear the word of God
and put it into practice (cf. Lk 8:21). How then could there not be
a profound spiritual under-standing between all believers and the
Virgin of the Magnificat? The poor and the humble in every age were
not mistaken when they made Mary in silence their Advo-cate and Mary
in service their Queen.
Let us too draw near to her and learn to imitate her docility and
openness to God. Let us too, the pilgrims of the third millennium,
commend ourselves to her in-tercession, so that by her prayers she
may sustain our faith, nourish our hope and make fruitful our
charity:
Holy Mary, Mother of God and our own Mother,
look upon all your children
and come to our aid.
Guide us to Christ, the Way, and the Truth, and the Life;
from the Father implore for us the gifts of the Spirit,
protection from every snare, and freedom from all evil.
Help us ever to bear witness
to the fruitfulness of love and the authentic meaning of life;
teach us to build with you the Kingdom of your Son
the Kingdom of justice, love and peace. |
